CLUB DRUG PREVENTION TO BE TAUGHT

[Alfa]

CLUB DRUG PREVENTION TO BE TAUGHT

HURLEY - South Mississippi leaders in health, education and law enforcement
learned more about a new drug prevention program that will be taught in high
school and college classrooms this spring during an informational reception
Monday at the East Central Community Center.

The Mississippi Ecstasy Prevention Project is funded by a five-year,
$300,000 grant through the Alcohol and Drug Abuse division of the
Mississippi Department of Mental Health.

The pilot program will be taught at the University of Southern Mississippi,
the Perkinston, Jackson County and Jefferson Davis campuses of Mississippi
Gulf Coast Community College, and alternative schools in Jackson County.

It will use a research-based curriculum to teach at-risk students ages 18-24
about the dangers of Ecstasy and other club drugs.

Joe Stallworth, prevention coordinator for Singing River Mental Health
Services, said various agencies perform surveys in middle school, high
school and college classrooms that ask in-depth questions about students'
drug and alcohol abuse.

That data is sent to researchers at the University of Mississippi. Yancey
said researchers give the information back to the agencies, which then
provide it to local schools and other youth organizations.

Superintendent Rucks Robinson said although he believes alcohol and
marijuana are the most prevalent problems in the district, Ecstasy has the
potential to be a serious problem.

"Our children are at risk and it is extremely important we get in on the
prevention stage, rather than having to deal with it after the fact,"
Robinson said.